Author: Central Desk

As the automotive world steers towards electrification and sustainability, luxury carmakers like Jaguar are not only following the trend but reinventing themselves in the process. With the 2023 model year coming to a close, Jaguar’s current lineup stands still, gearing up for the anticipated all-electric transition by 2025. First Glimpse at the Future Before 2023 bows out, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has teased the automotive community with a sneak peek at the first of its three all-new electric vehicles set to debut in 2025. Although JLR officials have shared tidbits of their vision for a reimagined Jaguar—aiming to rub shoulders…

Vietnam’s VinFast, a rising star in the electric vehicle (EV) arena, has experienced a roller coaster of valuation highs and challenges in scaling up its global operations. Despite the company’s ambitious goal to sell 50,000 EVs this year, only 16,000 cars have been sold so far. The newcomer has successfully wooed Wall Street, achieving a surprising valuation of over $85 billion in a Nasdaq listing. To put this into perspective, that’s nearly double the valuation of established automakers like Ford or General Motors. This valuation came to fruition even as the company hasn’t turned a profit yet. VinFast’s robust debut…

The formal agreement took place in Gurugram, Haryana, with notable representatives from both companies. Among them were Kim Eun-soo, Hyundai Motor India’s Executive Vice President for the Middle East & Africa Strategic Region, and Asif Khatri, GM India’s Vice President of Production. Kim emphasized the acquisition’s significance, stating, “By initiating full-scale operations at the Talegaon plant by 2025, Hyundai envisions creating a state-of-the-art manufacturing epicenter that will substantially bolster the Indian automotive sector.” This acquisition awaits regulatory approval from the Indian government. Once sanctioned, Hyundai Motor India will possess the land and assets of the Talegaon establishment. Hyundai’s endeavor aims…

German auto giant Mercedes-Benz has disconnected its Russian car dealers from vital servicing software, as reported by Russian newspaper Izvestia. MB RUS, the official distributor for Mercedes-Benz Russia, confirmed the loss of access to online software essential for vehicle maintenance. Given this development, the company stated vehicle repair and maintenance would pivot to rely on local “accumulated experience and expertise.” “Dealers are disconnected from the manufacturer’s online software systems, leading to potential extended repair times,” MB RUS told Izvestia. This move echoes concerns across Russia’s automotive sector. The Association of Russian Automobile Dealers highlighted similar software disruptions faced by other…

Typhoon Lan, expected to strike near Osaka on Tuesday, will be the second typhoon to hit Japan in just a week. Osaka, the country’s second-largest metropolitan area, and the central heavy industrial region are both poised in the typhoon’s path. This region, vital for its automobile factories, will face the brunt of the storm before it veers northward to Hokkaido. Toyota, Mitsubishi Motors, Honda, and Suzuki, however, have reported that their operations won’t be impacted by Typhoon Lan. They attribute this to the timely coincidence of the storm with their annual break, during which their manufacturing plants remain closed. Despite…

The auto industry was abuzz in late July when German automotive giant Volkswagen announced its agreement to acquire a 4.99 percent stake in Chinese electric vehicle (EV) upstart, Xpeng. This strategic move not only paves the way for the co-development of two EV models tailored for the Chinese market but also grants Volkswagen the keys to Xpeng’s coveted suite of technologies, including their state-of-the-art driving assistance system. This collaboration heralds China’s rapidly changing automotive landscape, noted by Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng in a recent interview with Xinhua News Agency. Traditionally, technological know-how was a one-way street, flowing predominantly from foreign…

China’s prominence in global automobile exports surged, solidifying its position as the world’s top vehicle-exporting economy. In July, overseas shipments rose by 63%, amounting to 310,000 vehicles, compared to the previous year. This uptick brought the cumulative total to an impressive 2.65 million units over the first seven months of 2023. Data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) reveals 80% (248,000 units) of July’s exports came from local brands. This trend reflects China’s burgeoning automotive sector as it outpaces Japan. Recent data shows China leading by 15.8% over Japan, with 2.34 million vehicles exported during the first half of…

The frontier of V2G Power, where renewable energy and technology converge, looms closer each day, materializing prominently through the Vehicle-to-Grid power system. Vehicle-to-Grid, or V2G, transforms electric vehicles (EVs) from mere power consumers to potential power contributors back to the grid. This innovative approach heralds a potential transformation of our power infrastructure, fostering an era of reduced carbon footprints and leading us toward a greener world. At its essence, V2G technology operates on a straightforward premise. Parked and plugged-in EVs can use their idle batteries as makeshift energy reservoirs. When the grid experiences high demand, these stored reserves can be…

The automotive landscape is being dramatically reshaped, introducing us to ‘Biometrics Vehicles’—a future where our cars understand and respond to us more than ever before. At the center of this transformation is biometric technology, which is revolutionizing the dynamics of driver-vehicle interaction through enhanced security, personalization, and user convenience. While biometrics, a technology that recognizes individuals based on unique physical or behavioral attributes, isn’t new to the auto realm, its current trajectory is redefining vehicle experiences. Luxury car brands have, for years, employed fingerprint recognition for added security. Today, however, the technology’s purview extends to a gamut of features, promising…

Electric vehicle (EV) sales in India could skyrocket to an annual figure of 10 lakhs by the decade’s close, as forecasted by Tata Motors. The company also envisions these eco-friendly vehicles comprising half of their sales by then. This Mumbai-based automotive giant recently celebrated the milestone of selling over 1 lakh EVs. Current data shows electric models account for 14-15% of their total quarterly sales. Reflecting on the exponential growth, Shailesh Chandra, the Managing Director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, noted, “Five years back, electric vehicles used to sell just 90 units a month. Today these sell 8,500 to 9,500…